glacial Definition

glacial
adj

1a. geol.geog.
Relating to or resembling a glacier;
1b. geol.geog.
Caused by the action of a glacier.
2. Referring or relating to ice or its effects.
3. Said of a geological time period, etc: characterized by the presence of glaciers or large masses of ice.
4. chem.
Said of a chemical compound: tending to form crystals that resemble ice.
Example: glacial acetic acid
5. now colloq
Extremely cold.
Thesaurus: cold, icy, frozen, freezing, frigid, arctic, frosty, biting, chilly, bitter, gelid; Antonym: warm.
6. Hostile.

Example: a glacial stare
Thesaurus: antagonistic, hostile, inimical, haughty, cool; Antonym: friendly.

noun

1. A glacial period; an ice age.

Derivative: glacially
adverb

Etymology: 17c in sense 2: from Latin glacialis icy.